I like posh and fancy hotels as much as the next guy, but when I travel to the Caribbean, I much prefer to stay with friends and family. The Caribbean is home for me, after all, so while room service, seaside spa treatments and other fancy bits of pampering are nice, I’m generally happiest when my accommodations more closely match the trappings of my childhood.

That said, The Retreat at Lookout in Grand Cayman is one of the happiest places I’ve stayed in the past couple years.

I found this quaint, family-owned/operated property while driving around the island looking for a place to stay. My first two nights had been spent in one of the nice resort properties on Seven Mile Beach. Clean, friendly, affordable and convenient for my initial Cayman adventures, I liked it well enough. The only problem was they were sold-out for the third night of my trip. I was traveling solo, so I had no concerns over finding someplace decent to crash for a night.

I also had no idea of the special experience that was in store for me at The Retreat…

I was driving just outside Bodden Town on the south coast of the island after my yummy seafood lunch at The Grape Tree Cafe when I saw a sign for something called “The Retreat at Lookout Farm” at the side of the road. “What could that be?,” I wondered as I steered my rental excitedly off the main road and into a residential area.

The further I traveled off the main road, the less houses I saw and the worse the road became. Suddenly, another sign, a left turn down a gravel road and I was there… Only thing is, I had no idea where “there” was.

From the parking area, The Retreat looks like a small and rustic farm. The reason is… well… in part, that’s exactly what it is!

Rows and rows of mangoes, papaya, breadfruit, watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are laid out neatly near the entrance, with an irrigation system spread throughout. Roosters crowed, cows were mooing; indeed, The Retreat is every bit a real West Indian farm.

As the uniqueness of my surroundings settled in my mind, a beautiful young woman approached. “May I help you?,” she inquired, her distinctly Guyanese lilt lending added credence to the authentic West Indian surroundings.

I introduced myself and asked if they had any rooms for the night. The woman said she would check, and asked if I would like a drink while I waited. I replied in the affirmative and continued to explore the crops. Instantly, she returned with an ice-cold glass of a fairly clear liquid. I didn’t ask what it was, instead thanking her and tipping the glass to my lips.

Coconut water! Fresh, crisp coconut water!

I was home.

Main House at The Retreat/SBPR

Even if you’re not West Indian, though, the loving folks who run The Retreat will surely make you feel the same as I did. The owners, Harvey and Betty Stephenson, have lived here for 15 years. The main building of the property was once their private home. Their primary farming business still supplies produce to markets and restaurants throughout the island. They started welcoming guests two years ago; a natural extension of the farm and the Stephenson’s wonderfully warm hospitality.

Staying here is just like staying with your parents… assuming, of course, your parents are perfect.

Harvey and Betty give you as much privacy as you’d like, but at the same time, they’re always there to attend to your needs on a familial, caring basis you just can’t find in large resorts. (No nagging or guilt trips either). They give you good-sized air-conditioned rooms with ceiling fans, cable-TV, a nice private bathroom and one of the most amazingly comfortable beds I’ve ever slept on anywhere. There’s even a pool and comfy living areas within the main house for relaxing.

Suite accommodations at The Retreat, Grand Cayman/SBPR

My favorite thing about the one night I spent here was waking up in the morning. Let’s start with the breakfast, which is included with every stay. It varies daily, but rest assured, you’re in for some serious Caribbean favorites. As noted on The Retreat’s website:

Savory dishes include saltfish and ackee, callaloo, bammy or breadfruit complimented with sweet pairings of ripe plantain, johnny cake and delicious jams made from our mangos and sea grapes.

You can opt for omelets, scrambled eggs, bacon, cereal, etc., but you’d be missing the point. They’re serving the real Caribbean here, so you might as well enjoy it all!

For me, that real Caribbean also includes sitting on The Retreat’s inviting verandah and taking in the sights and sounds of nature that envelop the property, particularly in the early morning hours. The roosters and cows are joined in their chorus by a symphony of tropical birds, no doubt drawn here by the many tropical fruits and fragrant blooming flowers. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to sit and enjoy for hours…

Miles from the tony resorts on Seven Mile Beach in more than just geography, The Retreat delivers a uniquely “country” Caribbean experience with all the comforts of an authentic West Indian home. A happy place, indeed!

Related

This is such a quite delightful narrative! The breakfast dishes surely brought back some cherished childhood memories. I have not heard of the word “bammy” in decades!

However, there is one little detail in your prose, which I have always found a bit annoying and a tad impertinent; if in fact, the” young beautiful woman” that approached your person, while the uniqueness of the surroundings settled in your mind, inquired “may I help you?” in what seems to be standard english; was it necessary to inform that she had done so in her “distinctly Guyanese lilt,” to which you later added, “I am home”?

Aside from the above, I had a delectable read!

With cheers of appreciation,

Rupert Davis Manhattan, NY

uncommoncarib

Thanks for your feedback and kudos, Rupert. I suppose it wasn’t really necessary to point out the woman’s dialect. I was really just trying to set the whole scene with all the detail from my memory. Also, the thing that actually made me feel instantly at home was the coconut water. When I pull up to most hotels in the region, I’m usually offered regular water or soda. The offer of coconut water was a nice, purely West Indian touch that told me I was in the right place. The Retreat is truly special in a way that made me feel like I was staying with family back home in St. Croix. Thanks again!

dammesansmerci

Nice picture! That’s my sister and brother-in-law!!

PFlo

A very ‘Caribbean experience!’ I completely understand, as a Trinidadian, about ‘being home’! This article made my heart smile!

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Uncommon Caribbean is Steve and Patrick Bennett, two brothers from St. Croix changing the way people think about travel to the Caribbean by putting authentic aspects of island life and the region's unique cultural heritage in the spotlight ahead of the glitzy, one-size fits all tourist trap image popularized over the years. Read more...